11 January, 2026, 11:59 am Central - 28°C Rain

Critical HIV medication set to arrive next Friday - Health Ministry

Critical HIV medication set to arrive next Friday - Health Ministry

By Rashika Kumar
21/11/2024

The much-needed drugs for HIV patients will arrive in the country next Friday as the Health Ministry is regulating the distribution due to limited supply.

The Ministry had earlier said that they only have supplies sufficient for a one-month dose per patient.

When questioned about what led to the limited supply, the Ministry says the supply is an ongoing issue, as supplies are ordered from abroad and at times, these medications have to be manufactured.

They say the delays too are also encountered from the supply and manufacturer ends.

The Ministry has a limited supply of Antiretroviral (ARV) medication also known as Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) which are a combination of drugs used to treat HIV.

They say this medication prevents HIV from replicating and destroying CD4 cells, which are an important part of the immune system.

It also prevents mother-to-child HIV transmission.

They further say at the moment, there are alternative medication regimens that HIV patients are consuming however, the Ministry will be closely monitoring supplies.

As at June this year, there are 552 confirmed cases of HIV/AIDS in the country.

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